Smart Actuators Based on External Stimulus Response.

Chenxue Xu,Chen Chen,Qinchao Zheng,Min Zhu,Zhenlin Jiang,Fanfan Fu

doi:10.3389/fchem.2021.650358

Abstract

Smart actuators refer to integrated devices that are composed of smart and artificial materials, and can provide actuation and dampening capabilities in response to single/multi external stimuli (such as light, heat, magnetism, electricity, humidity, and chemical reactions). Due to their capability of dynamically sensing and interaction with complex surroundings, smart actuators have attracted increasing attention in different application fields, such as artificial muscles, smart textiles, smart sensors, and soft robots. Among these intelligent material, functional hydrogels with fiber structure are of great value in the manufacture of smart actuators. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in stimuli-responsive actuators based on functional materials. We emphasized the important role of functional nano-material-based additives in the preparation of the stimulus response materials, then analyzed the driving response medium, the preparation method, and the performance of different stimuli responses in detail. In addition, some challenges and future prospects of smart actuators are reported.

Highlights

With revolutionary developments of nanomaterials and bionics, smart actuators in response to natural muscles has attracted considerable attention in the last decade
We mainly focus on the recent progress of single and multiple responses smart actuators in points of material designs, fabrication methods, and performance (Figure 1)
Smart actuators based on light and electric stimuli response can be prepared by combining light-sensitive materials with electroactive polymers

Summary

Introduction

With revolutionary developments of nanomaterials and bionics, smart actuators in response to natural muscles has attracted considerable attention in the last decade. Yamamoto et al combined CNTs with PNIPAM as photothermal conversion materials of their prepared actuators that could achieve a bending deflection of 210° within 80 s under photothermal stimulation (Figure 8B) (Yamamoto et al, 2015).

Results

Conclusion